Culture shock rating

Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.

Low

Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.

Medium

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.

High

You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Low

Physicality

Physical rating

Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.

Low

Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.

Medium

Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

High

Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.

Medium

TOUR SNAPSHOT

Tour snapshot

It’s the ultimate intro to Brasov on this tour that takes you to some of the city’s most iconic sites. Unearth hidden medieval churches, fairytale turrets, and secret catacombs while learning the history of this intriguing city. This is the perfect way to kick-start your time in Transylvania, offering you a sizable sample of local culture and history.

Note that this tour requires minimum two travellers to book. A single/solo traveller may book this experience if they wish by purchasing two places.

Highlights

Get an introduction to the city of Brasov with a local guide leading the way

Discover Brasov’s most captivating sites, including the ominous Black Church, the biggest gothic church in Eastern Europe

Munch on covrigi, a street food snack that looks like a pretzel but tastes even better

Refresh with cool spring water direct from the Carpathian mountains

Experience the tight squeeze of Europe’s second narrowest street

Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, a traditional street snack of covrig, entrance tickets to the Weavers Bastion.

Exclusions: Additional food and drink, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, entrance tickets to the Black Church, tips/gratuities for your guide.

Schedule details

Your Brasov tour will start with a stop in Piata Sfatului, Brasov’s picturesque main square where you will be offered a covrig, a popular and delicious Romanian street food that is similar to a Turkish simit and looks like a pretzel. Two hundred years ago, the city of Brasov sat literally on the border between the Austro-Hungarian empire and the Ottoman empire and its culture vividly reflects this. The snack you’ll try is a tasty symbol of that clash and a great introduction to Brasov.

After a stroll down the Tampa promenade, we will stop at the fountain, where you can replenish your fluids with spring water straight from Tampa Mountain. We will then climb to the top of the 12-metre wall that surrounds the city for enchanting views across the church tops (a great photo opp!).

After getting an aerial overview of Brasov, it’s time to delve deeply into some of its secret treasures. We will visit the Bastionul Țesătorilor (or Weaver's Bastion), St Nicholas Church (with its 'suspended cemetery' optical illusion), and the fairytale-esque Ecaterina Gate, the oldest gateway in the city.

Venturing beyond the city walls, we will go on to discover the entrance to secret catacombs, impressive street art, stunning parkland, and the famous Black and White towers of Brasov. Built to defend the city against the Mongols, the towers have had many quirky uses over the years including a plague quarantine zone, a nightclub, and now an exhibition space.

Heading back towards the main square we will visit a very beautiful bookstore (souvenir shopping alert!) before we happen upon arguably the city’s most famous landmark, the Black Church. It’s the biggest Gothic church in Eastern Europe, and its interior is rather severe — but a large and extremely colourful collection of Turkish rugs, donated by visiting merchants over the years, brightens things up.

Our tour will end after this, but before you go, don’t forget to ask your local guide for more local food stops and advice on exploring the rest of Transylvania.

Note that this tour requires minimum two travellers to book. A single/solo traveller may book this experience if they wish by purchasing two places.

Additional information

Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, a traditional street snack of covrig, entrance tickets to the Weavers Bastion.

Exclusions: Additional food and drink, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, entrance tickets to the Black Church, tips/gratuities for your guide.

Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.

Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.

Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.